Goodbye Paul - A look back on Paul's Youth Ministry

Goodbye Paul - A look back on Paul's Youth Ministry

Back in March 2017, after over four years as the Redemptorist Youth Ministry Coordinato, Paul Murphy left us for pastures new. During his tenure he set up youth groups and young adult groups in Birmingham, Liverpool and London.

CSsR Youth SERVING LIVERPOOL’S HOMELESS...

CSsR Youth - SERVING LIVERPOOL’S HOMELESS...

So today I wanted to share a recent experience of mine. Slightly different from the usual posts I write, however, after my night helping with the Redemptorist Homeless Mission night in Liverpool I believe that awareness needs to be raised of the huge need for help for the homeless people on our streets.

I want to share with you my experience of the night, and also tell you how you could get involved.

Please, please do get involved. I am really hoping that by using this platform to raise the issue, it will encourage people to talk more about the problem that is homelessness, and hopefully something can be done to find more long-term solutions.

My Experience

In all honesty, I had no idea what to expect with the mission night. There have been two previous nights in Liverpool, but unfortunately I had been unable to attend them. However, as part of Hope University’s CathSoc, I had helped to organise collection boxes around the university so that both staff and students alike could donate items such as spare hats, coats, sleeping bags, deodorant and facewipes etc to be donated to the people we were to encounter.

On the night, the group of us from Hope travelled to the Metropolitan Cathedral where we met up with Paul (leader of the Redemptorist Mission nights across the UK) and around 20 other people. After a short prayer to kick off proceedings, we split into smaller groups and made our way through the city centre via different routes. By taking this approach, it ensured that we were able to help as many people as possible, and the homeless were not met twice by different groups. This enabled resources to be distributed much more evenly across the city centre.

CSsR Youth and the London Homeless Mission...

CSsR Youth and the London Homeless Mission...

"Once again I have a mixture of emotions following our Redemptorist Homeless Mission in central London this evening!

On the most bitterly cold night in London - we have had the most heartwarming conversations with some incredible people who are homeless around Piccadilly, Green Park, Piccadilly Circus and Chinatown.

We met and talked to around 30 people from so many places who are homeless. So many people who are just like you and me - and who are in such lonely heartbreaking situations - without food, shelter or company!

CSsR Youth Ministry in Action

CSsR Youth Ministry in Action...

Paul Murphy reports on the Redemptorist Homeless Mission which has been taking place in London, Birmingham and Liverpool...

"Quite an incredible and humbling night at our Redemptorist Homeless Mission in Liverpool. A wonderful group of over 20 us from all over Liverpool and beyond came to help us minister to people who we encountered on the streets who were homeless.

We met and distributed sandwiches, hot drinks, water, homeless packs (hats, scarves, socks, toothbrushes and toothpaste) to over 90-100 people who are homeless in the city centre.

Yet again I'm overwhelmed by the generosity of people's time, love and commitment to the mission - and the thanksgiving and friendliness of our brothers and sisters in need. They were all so thankful and their smiles were wonderful.

Shocking increase however in the numbers of homeless we are seeing this year! God bless all those we met, all those who came and helped in any way tonight. We are already arranging another Mission for January here given the response of the group!"